COLUMBUS, GA, UNITED STATES, February 24, 2026 – Last week, we hosted our Annual State of the City, presented by Page Scrantom – the eighth and final one delivered by Mayor Henderson. As always, it gave us the opportunity to reflect on what the year behind held and get a glimpse into the year ahead. This time, it carried a little more weight.
Our city is in a moment of transition with an election cycle coming up that will bring a new Mayor and six of the ten Council seats being contested. Couple that with an ongoing city manager search, and it’s no wonder the room was sold out to hear what the Mayor had to say.
Here were my key takeaways:
- We don’t have to agree on everything. We just have to be willing to have the conversation and then make the decision we feel is best for Columbus to move forward.
- The people of Columbus are what make this place special. They always have been. The people of Columbus have taken ideas and grown them into international ventures. The people of Columbus will be the ones who ensure our future economic opportunities continue to grow and sustain. Leadership matters, but so do the everyday contributors across our business and civic community.
- The city manager search is ongoing. It is not stopped or stalled, but moving ahead with a focus on finding the right person for the job.
- We should all be proud of the strides made in public safety. Recent numbers and recognitions show that the culture within our Police Department has shifted, and those changes are producing real outcomes in the form of a safer community for all.
And on a more personal note, the Mayor shared his excitement about his next chapter in life as El Padre (Grandpa)! After years of service, he’s looking forward to that role, and rightly so.
As we close this chapter and prepare for the next, we invite you to reflect as well: What were your takeaways?